Start up acquires Dawnfresh Farming from Mowi to advance semi-closed containment farming
A new aquaculture company, SeaQureFarming Group, has acquired Dawnfresh Farming from Mowi, securing the future of its trout farming operations and setting the stage for the rollout of a new semi-closed containment farming system in Scotland.
The deal, announced on Monday, was completed in early April following the necessary consultation and due diligence. It includes the remaining trout farming assets of Dawnfresh Farming that Mowi had not integrated into its salmon production. Existing operations and employees will be retained, with several new roles also being created as part of the acquisition.
SeaQureFarming Group was established by Stewart Graham, founder and owner of Inverness-based Gael Force Group, to develop a fish farming business built around the SeaQureFarm semi-closed containment farming system, currently in advanced stages of development.
“We are delighted to have agreed this deal with Mowi which will deliver on multiple strategic objectives for us,” said Graham. “Firstly, and most importantly, we will secure the jobs and the long-term future of Dawnfresh Farming’s operations and those joining us from Mowi. We know that there is a terrific team at Dawnfresh Farming and Mowi who have been dedicated to successfully running these trout farming operations and we look forward to securing and developing the business.
“Secondly, we will preserve the position of the Dawnfresh product in the market and seek to grow capacity, building lasting long-term supply relationships with existing and new customers alike. Finally, we will be able to develop an opportunity within the Dawnfresh operations to deploy the SeaQureFarming semi-closed containment system technology on our own sites to grow capacity, in advance of us establishing further SeaQureFarming sites and the SeaQureFarm system being launched into the wider market.”
Ben Hadfield, COO of Mowi Scotland, welcomed the transaction: “The acquisition of Dawnfresh Farming by Stewart Graham and SeaQureFarming Group represents an exciting new chapter for the companies, as well as the industry.
“It was important that the Dawnfresh trout farming team would be retained as part of the move, and we are delighted that the new group also has plans to expand. We would like to thank all Dawnfresh Farming and Mowi colleagues for their continued support, and we wish them and the new organisation well for the future.”
SeaQureFarming Group’s strategy combines operational continuity with innovation, aiming to deploy the SeaQureFarm™ system within the acquired operations while building out its presence in the Scottish aquaculture sector.